PI Action alerts & updates ... 2003

Final Decisions Being Made on ADAP Funding

Please call your Representative/Senators one last time to save ADAP!

Thank you again to everyone who has helped try to save ADAP this year by calling, writing, and meeting with your Members of Congress about this important issue! As you know from our last update, the Senate voted against the Schumer amendment, which would have provided a substantial increase for ADAP and other Ryan White CARE Act programs.

We are now at the end of the appropriations process for Fiscal Year 2004, and there is a final opportunity to encourage Congress to pass the highest possible increase for ADAP. Because the House of Representatives and the Senate proposed different increases for ADAP, a joint House/Senate “conference committee” will come together to work out differences.

The amounts passed by the Senate and House are extremely inadequate. The House has proposed a $39 million increase, while the Senate voted for a $25 million increase. Both amounts are far below the $215 million increase identified by AIDS treatment experts as needed to alleviate the current ADAP crisis.

Once again, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) is taking the lead on fighting for people with HIV by authoring a “Dear Colleague” to the conference committee. The letter asks for increases for the entire Ryan White CARE Act, including an additional $214.8 million increase for ADAP, at the levels included in his amendment.

This letter provides another chance for Senators to do the right thing and fight for funding needed for vital care and treatment programs for people with HIV/AIDS.

In addition, House Representatives need to be asked to convey their support for adequate ADAP funding to the conference committee members. Key members of that committee need to hear from people around the country that their leadership is needed to alleviate the treatment access crisis. Please take a few minutes this week to make some important phone calls.

What you can do:
There are several phone calls you can make this week to make a difference. A toll-free number is included below, so there is no cost to you. Please make as many of these calls as possible!

Call your two U.S. Senators’ DC office. Ask to speak to the legislative aide who handles HIV/AIDS and healthcare issues. If your Senator voted in favor of the Schumer Amendment (see list below), thank him/her for his vote and ask that the Senator sign Senator Schumer’s “Dear Colleague” letter.

If your Senator voted against the Schumer amendment, express your disappointment in that vote and let them know that you expect them to sign Senator Schumer’s letter. If you are in one of the ADAP crisis states, and your Senator voted no, ask how he/she can justify turning their back on their constituents who are facing barriers to treatment access.

Call your U.S. Representative’s DC office and ask to speak to the legislative aide who handles HIV/AIDS and healthcare issues. Identify yourself as a constituent and let them know that you urge your Representative to ask the Labor-HHS appropriations conference committee to support a $215 million increase for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, the amount needed to alleviate the current fiscal crisis.

Call the following key members of the conference committee (toll-free number below):

Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA)
Chair of Senate Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee

Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Ranking Member, Senate Labor HHS Appropriations Subcommittee

Representative Ralph Regula (R-OH)
Chair of House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee

Representative David Obey (D-WI)
Ranking Member, House Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee

Unless you are a constituent, do not ask for a legislative aide, but leave the following message with the person who answers the phone:

Sample Phone Message

“I am calling to urge Senator/Representative ____________ to support adequate funding for HIV/AIDS care and treatment programs, including a $215 million increase for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Senator/Representative _______________ is making decisions in conference committee that affect people with HIV across the country and should support the funding increase needed to ensure that all Americans have access to lifesaving treatment.”

Contact information:
You can call your Representative and Senators toll-free by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 1-800-648-3516. You’ll need to know their names and ask to be transferred. Don’t know who your Senators/Representatives are? Go to www.vote-smart.org for help.

For more information:
The Save ADAP Committee is a Working Group of the AIDS Treatment Activists Coalition (ATAC), a national coalition of AIDS treatment activists and policy advocates. Working in conjunction with ADAP clients and service providers on the grassroots level, Save ADAP aims to ensure adequate funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. If you would like to join Save ADAP, please send an email to Ryan Clary at rclary@projectinform.org. For more information about ATAC, go to www.atac-usa.org.